Gun alignment adjusting device

Abstract

A device for mechanically adjusting a gun with respect to a separate sighting means. The gun has a gimbal mounting and a double eccentric mounting arrangement, whereby the gun can be adjusted or aligned to a specific relationship with the sight, and once adjusted, can be locked to maintain such adjusted position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gun alignment adjusting device, in combination with: a. a gun having an alignment and an aft support;   b. and, a stationary support structure adjacent to and aft of said aft support of said gun, wherein said stationary support structure has an opening therein and therethrough in alignment with, and sized larger than, said aft support of said gun and has a perimeter formed by said opening, and also has an index marking at a preselected fixed location adjacent said opening and said perimeter thereof;   wherein said gun alignment adjusting device comprises: a. an outer eccentric member rotatably mounted in said opening in said stationary support structure, wherein said outer eccentric member has an outer perimeter with a scale along thereat divided into a plurality of a preselected number of marked equal spacings, with each one of said marked spacings rotatably and selectively setable in alignment with said index marking of said stationary support structure, and wherein said outer eccentric member has an off-center opening therein and therethrough forming an inner perimeter of said outer eccentric member, with said off-center opening being sized larger than said aft support of said gun, and wherein said outer eccentric member also has an index marking at a preselected fixed location adjacent said off-center opening and said inner perimeter thereof;   b. means for releasably locking, in a preselected rotational relationship, sad outer eccentric member to said stationary support structure;   c. an inner eccentric member rotatably mounted in such off-center opening in said outer eccentric member, wherein said inner eccentric member has an outer perimeter with a scale along thereat divided into a plurality of a preselected number of marked spacings, an off-center opening therein and therethrough into which said aft support of said gun is free-fitted and is releasably supported and held, an inner perimeter formed by said off-center opening, and a hub portion surrounding said off-center opening;   d. and, means for releasably locking, in a preselected rotational relationship, said inner eccentric member to said outer eccentric member;   whereby said inner and outer eccentric members are rotatable and releasably lockable, in a preselected rotated positional relationship, relative to each other and to said stationary support structure,   and whereby said inner and outer eccentric members are useable complementarily with, and cooperatively with, each other and with said stationary support structure, thereby permitting said alignment of said gun to be set, as desired.     
     
     
       2. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said opening in said stationary support structure is in the geometric form of a circle;   b. said perimeter formed by such opening in said stationary support structure is in the geometric form of a circumference of a circle;   c. said outer perimeter of said outer eccentric member is in the geometric form of a circumference of a circle;   d. said off-center opening in said outer eccentric member is in the geometric form of a circle;   e. and, said outer perimeter of said inner eccentric member is in the geometric form of a circumference of a circle.   
     
     
       3. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein: a. said outer eccentric member is in the geometric form of a cylinder;   b. and, said inner eccentric member is in the geometric form of a cylinder.   
     
     
       4. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said aft support of said gun has an aft end which is shaped cylinder-like, and wherein said inner perimeter formed by said off-set opening in said inner eccentric manner is in the geometric form of a circle complementary in size to said aft end of said aft support of said gun. 
     
     
       5. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for releasably locking, in a preselected rotational relationship, said outer eccentric member to said stationary support structure includes: a. a groove, transversely positioned in said circumference of said circular opening of said stationary support structure and simultaneously positioned adjacent said index marking;   b. a first plurality of identical grooves, one of said grooves for each one of said plurality of marked spacings along said outer circumference of said outer eccentric member with said grooves transversely positioned in said outer circumference, and simultaneously positioned adjacent a different one of said marked spacings, wherein each groove of this plurality is shaped complementary to said groove in said circumference of said circular opening of said stationary support structure, whereby an opening is formed by said stationary support structure groove and by any groove selected from the plurality of outer circumference grooves by said outer eccentric number, when said selected outer circumference groove is rotatably positioned adjacent to and abutting with said stationary support structure groove;   c. and, a first lock pin shaped complementary to, and removably inserted into, said opening formed by said stationary support structure groove and by said adjacent, abutting, selected outer circumference groove by said outer eccentric member.   
     
     
       6. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for releasably locking, in a preselected rotational relationship, said inner eccentric member to said outer eccentric member includes: a. a second plurality of identical grooves, one of said grooves for each one of said plurality of marked spacings along said outer circumference of said inner eccentric member, with said groove transversely positioned in said outer circumference, and simultaneously positioned adjacent a different one of said marked spacings;   b. an index groove shaped complementary to said identical grooves of said second plurality, with said groove transversely positioned at a preselected location in said inner circumference of said off-center opening in said outer eccentric member, whereby an opening is formed by any one groove selected from said second plurality and said complementary index when said selected groove of said second plurality is rotatably positioned adjacent to and abutting with said index groove;   c. and, a second lock pin shaped complementary to, and removably inserted into, said opening formed by said selected groove of said second plurality and by said adjacent, abutting, index groove.   
     
     
       7. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for releasably locking, in a preselected rotational relationship, said outer eccentric member to said stationary support structure, and said means for releasably locking, in a preselected rotational relationship, said inner eccentric member to said outer eccentric member, further include, in common, a retainer plate disposed in abutting contact with said inner and outer eccentric members simultaneously, wherein said retainer plate is secured to said outer eccentric member. 
     
     
       8. A gun alignment adjusting device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said stationary support structure groove, said index groove of said outer eccentric member, and each groove of said first and second, pluralities of grooves are identical to each other, and are each shaped in the geometric form of a semi-circle, and wherein said first and second lock pins are identical, and are each shaped in the geometric form of a right circular cylinder body with an external base end having a flanged head thereat.